September 16, 1952
S/S
Mrs. Ogden Reid of the New York Herald-Tribune telephoned the Secretary this morning that she was extremely anxious to have General Draper speak before the New York Herald-Tribune Forum on October 20. The over-all topic would be the world economic program in connection with building leadership for peace. The specific subject would be "New Frontiers for American Industry" - emphasizing the "trade not aid" idea, which General Draper had so admirably set forth in his recent report. Mrs. Reid said that since General Draper had a responsibility to the Secretary, as well as to others in Washington, she wanted to get the Secretary's blessing on it.
The Secretary said that although General Draper was hard at work on the NATO annual review, he would discuss the matter with Mr. Harriman and Mr. Lovett and let her know.
Mrs. Reid said that she had spoken with Mr. Lovett last week on the subject and he thought it might be possible provided it met with the Secretary's approval for General Draper to be here for a few days in spite of the importance of his work abroad. Mrs. Reid inquired if the Secretary thought it a good idea for her to talk the matter over with Harriman and Mr. Acheson agreed it was. He added that he thought Mr. Harriman was in New York to speak to the AF of L National Convention.
The Secretary reiterated he would take up the matter with Mr. Harriman and Mr. Lovett and let Mrs. Reid know the result.
May we have a departmental recommendation as to whether it would be a good idea to recall Draper at this time.
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a very good chance that the Chinese negotiators would accept this proposal. Mr. Acheson's opinion is that it is about a one-in-a-thousand chance that they would.
The Military views as to the disastrous consequences which could result from an armistice based on the Mexican proposal or a similar one, have been set forth in other memoranda. They are mainly that an armistice would give the Chinese a chance to rebuild their airfields and other military strength; that if, as a result of this, fighting has to be resumed, the UN side may be weaker militarily and may be in the anomalous position of resuming fighting during a formal armistice. There would be a great chance that, if there were an armistice, there would be tremendous pressures to bring our boys home. The Secretary feels that any armistice would bring about the same possibilities.
The Secretary said this brings you to the heart of the substance of new proposals and it is here that he has doubts as to the State Department's position. His doubts are along the following lines:
The Chinese could not possibly accept the proposal that the prisoners who would not be exchanged but who would be held for the outcome of further talks would be sent to other countries. Our side could not, the
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Secretary feels, hold these prisoners in prisoner-of-war camps where they are now located for a long and protracted period. If we do that, the possibility is that many of these prisoners would decide that they would rather give up and return to their homeland than to stay in the prison camps. This would undermine and destroy the very great psychological advantage which we have in offering refuge to communist soldiers who give themselves up. If, on the other hand, we insist on proposing that these unreturned prisoners should be sent to other countries pending the negotiations, we are proposing something which the Chinese negotiators would not and could not accept.